A One Health Approach to Sexual and Domestic Violence in Alaska

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1 A One Health Approach to Sexual and Domestic Violence in Alaska Mary F. Ehrlander, Ph.D. University of Alaska Fairbanks

2 Holistic view of historical and current conditions / forces contributing to Alaska s social pathologies Historical and Multi-generational Trauma Suicide Alcohol and Drug Abuse Sexual and Domestic Violence Frontier Attitudes Rapid Socio- Economic and Cultural Change Poor Mental Health Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Adverse Childhood Experiences Non-Intervention or Non-Confrontation

3 Cyclicality and Intractability Multi-generational trauma and rapid socio-economic change have disrupted traditional lifeways and normalized violence in many rural and Indigenous communities. Rurality, close family ties, and non-intervention norms discourage victims/survivors from making trouble. Shortage and inadequate training of law enforcement and health professionals inhibit reporting, seeking help

4 Cyclicality and Intractability (cont.) Child and adult survivors suffer in silence and shame. Low self-esteem Re-victimization Self-medication w/ alcohol, drugs Perpetuation of violence Suicide

5 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Affects of stress in children s lives, inc. physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; domestic violence; and alcohol abuse in the home, have been well documented. Vincent Felitti et al. (1998) The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study Children with one ACE are more likely to experience others. Greater number of ACEs poorer mental and physical health outcomes in adults.

6 Frontier Attitudes and Alcohol Culture By Denali National Park and Preserve - Every Road- DenaliUploaded by AlbertHerring, Public Domain,

7 Alaska s Frontier Attitudes and Alcohol Culture Foster public indifference to alcohol abuse and violence rural and urban. Wariness of government interventions and aversion to taxes Acceptance of high risk behaviors, including excessive drinking We ignore evidence of these problems / this suffering in our midst. We resist considering the crushing, lifelong and inter-generational effects that impact all Alaskans. Alcohol (and drug) abuse costs Alaskans $3 billion per year.

8 Alcohol Abuse, Sexual & Domestic Violence, and FASD Collaboration with graduate students Brenda Dow and Katie Hayden Alcohol abuse correlates strongly with sexual and domestic violence. Use of alcohol complicates prosecution of such violence. Often both the perpetrator and the victim have been drinking. Individuals with FASD more likely to be both victims and perpetrators.

9 Climate Change: Another exogenous assault on traditional lifeways Impacts animal migrations and populations, interferes with subsistence practices, poses increased hazards to travel on river and sea ice, endangers housing, fresh water sources, and sanitation in coastal areas threatens destruction of whole communities. Males likely to be impacted disproportionately, which may contribute to increased mental stress and unhealthy responses.

10 Moving Forward Breaking the silence and focusing on primary prevention is essential. Changing norms and reducing these pathologies will require local initiative, holistic approaches to community well-being, coordinated community responses, national and subnational support, health policies that permit holistic approaches to health and well-being, persistence!

11 Thank you

12 Selected Literature Bernard, Sara. Rape Culture in the Alaskan Wilderness. The Atlantic, September 11, culture-in-the-alaskan-wilderness/379976/. Brody, Hugh The People s Land: Eskimos and Whites in the Eastern Arctic. Ontario: Penguin Books, Durst, Douglas. Conjugal violence: Changing attitudes in two northern native communities, Community Journal of Mental Health 27, no. 5 (October 1991), Felitti, Vincent J., Robert F. Anda, Dale Nordenberg, David F. Williamson, Alison M. Spitz, Valerie Edwards, Mary P. Koss, and James S. Marks. "Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study." American journal of preventive medicine 14, no. 4 (1998): Moffitt, Pertice, and Heather Fikowski,, Rural and Northern Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence: Two Community Narratives. Accessed September 10, pdf/fvaw%20kit/2016%20fvaw/narratives%20within%20ithe%20ipv%20project.pdf. Restino, Carey. Why is Alaska the rape capital of the US? Because we allow it. Alaska Dispatch, April 7, Shepherd, Judy. "Where do you go when it's 40 below? Domestic violence among rural Alaska native women." Affilia 16, no. 4 (2001):

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Domestic Violence 101. Zara Espinoza, MSW

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Domestic Violence 101 Zara Espinoza, MSW Learning Objectives Enhance understanding of the dynamics surrounding IPV/Domestic Violence Explore effects, risk factors and cultural